Done Deal; Biggest TIGHT END man commit to APP STATE in a multimillion deal
Appalachian State adds to its 2025 commitment class with in-state tight end Dillon Galloway giving the Mountaineers a preseason pledge.
It’s a quick trip across the mountains for Brevard (NC) High School tight end Dillon Galloway, who committed to Appalachian State and adds to the 2025 Mountaineer pledge class.
Galloway unofficially visited App State on March 23 and Mountaineer tight ends coach Lance Ware offered Galloway the spot on June 20.
Galloway earned Mountain Foothills 7 All-Conference recognition last season with 167 receiving yards and seven scoring receptions, in addition to being a key blocker in Brevard’s 2,548-yard rushing attack.
Entering his third varsity season, Galloway has compiled more than 350 career receiving yards and averages a touchdown catch every three receptions.
A two-way player, Galloway also works at defensive end for the Blue Devils and created five lost-yardage plays and both caused and recovered a fumble last season. Brevard finished 10-3 and as undefeated conference champions in 2023.
APP STATE 2025 COMMITMENT CLASS
Galloway is App State’s 12th 2025 commit and the second North Carolinian in the class.
APP STATE OPENING WEEKEND NETS NEW 2025 COMMITMENT
Appalachian State adds more standout Georgia talent to its 2025 commitment class with safety Ian Williams pledging to the Mountaineers during an official visit.
Appalachian State gained more than its first 2024 victory on Saturday also earning a key defensive commitment from safety Ian Williams who was making an official visit with the Mountaineers.
A first team 7A All-Region 5 selection last season at Osborne High School, Williams is playing his senior season with Cass High School (White, GA), where teammate Kaden Ellis is also an App State commit.
Williams was a huge playmaker last season, recording 73 tackles, four interceptions, 14 pass breakups, and scoring four defensive touchdowns, two each on interceptions and fumble recoveries.
Williams also etched his name into Cass’ track record book this past spring, recording the school’s third-best 100-metter sprint time at 11.06 seconds and he ranks second all-time with a 22.63 200-meter time.
APP STATE 2025 COMMITMENT CLASS
With Williams’ commitment, App State has seven 2025 defensive pledges with five projected to play in the secondary.
Williams and Cass are off to a dominant 3-0 this season, allowing just seven total points to date.
IAN WILLIAMS 2023 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
Appalachian State took care of business in its 38-10 season-opening win over East Tennessee State.
The Mountaineers couldn’t have started much better, dragged a little in the middle, but a fast finish made the game look as dominant on the scoreboard as it did on the field.
First games are specifically isolated by that title for a reason – they’re rarely flawless – and App State’s performance wasn’t. But the effort was strong, enhanced talent depth was evident, and there’s plenty, both good and bad, to build upon.
With the win, the Mountaineers moved to 22-4 in Kidd Brewer Stadium under head coach Shawn Clark and the announced 36,000-plus crowd, led as always by App State student energy, was key in bringing midseason juice to week one.
WHAT WENT RIGHT?
Storming Start: After inclement weather threatened to delay the opening kickoff, App State’s offense squalled over the opening 22:22 of game time. The Mountaineers rolled to a 17-0 lead through their first three possessions, while compiling 207 yards and averaging 8.0 yards per play. It was a significant outburst for an offense which struggled to post early-drive scoring last season. Also credit the Mountaineer defense for smothering ETSU possessions and returning the ball back to the offense.
Defensive Depth: App State rotated a steady stream of defenders in various combinations throughout the game, which kept fresh playmaking Mountaineers on the field at every level of the scheme. In all, 25 different defenders recorded tackles in the game and seven compiled at least five stops. Despite rolling so many different pieces within the unit, continuity and communication rarely faltered and individual defenders repeatedly contributed to the stellar collective results.
Four-Score Aguilar: The hype around quarterback Joey Aguilar doesn’t influence his demeanor whatsoever but his production continually fuels the expectations. His first pass of the game sailed for an 83-yard touchdown, he burrowed into the end zone for a second quarter score, made a clutch catch-and-run connection for a 34-yard score, and closed the game with a short stroll for his fourth total touchdown. Aguilar has five four-touchdown deliveries in 15 career games as a Mountaineer.
Pick Your Poison: Aguilar’s job is made easier by a cache of weaponry, and he keeps everyone involved. Kaiden Robinson carded 103 receiving yards, his third 100-yard game in the past four, Christan Horn was on the receiving end of that 83-yarder, Eli Wilson streaked for the 34-yard scoring grab, Makai Jackson housed a 47-yard reverse, and Kanye Roberts caught four balls out of the backfield. All told, the Mountaineers averaged 14.8 yards per reception and those completions accounted for 65 percent of total yardage.
Third Was the Word: When App State faced Gardner-Webb and head coach/play caller Tre Lamb last season, the Bulldogs converted a frustrating 8-18 third down opportunities. In this “rematch,” at least in terms of scheme and direction, the Mountaineer defense not only limited ETSU to 3-13 third-down conversions but forced eight consecutive failures over nearly three-and-a-half quarters. Two of three Buc conversions came on their inconsequential final drive of the game, otherwise ETSU was 1-10 on third downs.
WHAT WENT WRONG?
Midway Stumble: For as nuclear as Aguilar’s opening was (7-10, 153 yards), there was a cold four-series stretch which spanned halftime during which Aguilar was 5-12 for just 20 yards. Self-reflective postgame, Aguilar called it on himself, feeling he got too amped amidst the energy in Kidd Brewer Stadium. He eventually rebounded to finish the game on a 10-14 run for 153 yards, but that midgame mini slump will be film review fodder for Aguilar and offensive coordinator Frank Ponce.
Big-Play Bust: App State’s defense was strong pretty much all day and each of ETSU’s scores required a big play to power those drives. The first, an 80-yard touchdown run, was the most concerning. Perhaps the Mountaineers weren’t as mentally sharp at that moment, with ETSU 80 yards from the end zone and just 2:00 until halftime, but a linebacker misfit and a poor secondary pursuit angle allowed an avoidable score.
Grounded: App State is known as a run-to-win team but with ETSU focusing its manpower in the box, the Mountaineers never truly unlocked the ground attack. There were some determined inside gains but the lack of explosive runs from the backfield collective plagued App State, as it did last season. This is an offensive line group that’s still very much in development and Saturday was a key initial step, but neither Clark, Ponce, nor offensive line coach Mike Cummings will accept the leading rusher being a receiver.
Punishing Penalties: The number of penalties isn’t necessarily as important as the timing of them and corresponding results. A first-quarter blindside block call erased a Mountaineer touchdown which became a field goal instead. It’s a split-second decision at full speed, so difficult to fault, but still impactful. An offensive holding call stalled a promising pre-halftime drive around midfield – just before ETSU’s big run score. But the Mountaineers cleaned this up after halftime, drawing just one flag.
WHAT’S DEVELOPING?
Everything. Again, first-game performances are typically the crudest of the season. Practice regulations and dynamics simply won’t allow for real game replication. App State did a lot of good stuff in its opener and was also robbed of a safety and corresponding offensive possession late in the third quarter, which would’ve changed the outcome further. But there’s a lot of cleaning up to do and that’s not a bad thing. Success originates from failures and early-game breakdowns eventually become game-winning plays.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Onto Clemson and smart money says the Tigers will be feeling vengeful more than shellshocked after a blowout opening loss to Georgia. This will be a punishing game, fueled by physicality, especially at the line of scrimmage where Clemson has the size advantage in both directions. App State must match the smash, but more importantly must properly execute critical basics of leverage and positioning. Detailed Mountaineer discipline and precision will play as much of a role in the outcome as brawling.
